2023 Best Value Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
23
Ranked Colleges
1,218
Degrees Awarded
$11,800
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Fine & Studio Arts is the 31st most popular major in the country with 37,413 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, fine and studio arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $25,051 and had an average of $25,492 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Rocky Mountains region, there were 1,218 fine and studio arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,399 and $23,593 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 23 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in fine and studio arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality fine and studio arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the fine and studio arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The fine arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #1 spot on the list. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s Fine Arts degrees to 63 students in 2020-2021.
BYU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for BYU is $9,445 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at BYU
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Brigham Young University - Idaho landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Rexburg, Idaho, and it awarded 138 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
BYU - I did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $2,073 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at BYU - I
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Utah. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. U of U is located in Salt Lake City, Utah and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 77 ’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.
U of U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Utah is $10,431 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full U of U Fine & Studio Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wyoming. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UW is a fairly large public school situated in Laramie, Wyoming. It awarded 29 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
UW not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $6,905 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at UW
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Colorado Boulder. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k. CU - Boulder is a large public school situated in Boulder, Colorado. It awarded 87 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, CU - Boulder has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $13,141 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend CU - Boulder.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full CU - Boulder Fine & Studio Arts Report
Colorado State University - Fort Collins came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and it awarded 101 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Colorado State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado State University - Fort Collins is $11,924 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Colorado State University - Fort Collins
University of Idaho did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Moscow, Idaho, this fairly large public school handed out 22 degrees to qualified ’s Fine Arts students in 2020-2021.
U of I not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U of I is $10,816 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at U of I
Utah State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Logan, Utah, and it awarded 65 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
USU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $9,148 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Utah State University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Utah State University
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus is a public institution located in Denver, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 118 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CU Anschutz, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend CU Anschutz is $10,404 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Fine & Studio Arts Report
University of Northern Colorado came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Greeley, Colorado, and it awarded 60 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Northern Colorado did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $13,150 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Northern Colorado.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at University of Northern Colorado
Weber State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ogden, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s Fine Arts degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.
WSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $9,748 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WSU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at WSU
Metropolitan State University of Denver came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. MSU Denver is a fairly large public school situated in Denver, Colorado. It awarded 35 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Denver, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $11,867 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend MSU Denver.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at MSU Denver
With a ranking of #13, Southern Utah University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cedar City, Utah, this fairly large public school handed out 24 degrees to qualified ’s Fine Arts students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southern Utah University, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Utah University is $9,873 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Southern Utah University Fine & Studio Arts Report
Dixie State University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Dixie State College is a fairly large public school situated in Saint George, Utah. It awarded 20 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Dixie State College has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. It costs about $12,208 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Dixie State University.
Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Dixie State College
Montana State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Bozeman, Montana, this fairly large public school handed out 50 degrees to qualified ’s Fine Arts students in 2020-2021.
MSU Bozeman not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Montana State University is $15,986 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Montana State University
Fort Lewis College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #16. FLC is a public institution located in Durango, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at FLC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for FLC is $11,492 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at FLC
The University of Montana came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The University of Montana is located in Missoula, Montana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.
UM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Montana is $12,739 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full The University of Montana Fine & Studio Arts Report
Colorado State University - Pueblo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, this medium-sized public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s Fine Arts students in 2020-2021.
Colorado State University - Pueblo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Colorado State University - Pueblo is $11,243 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Colorado State University - Pueblo
University of Denver came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Denver, Colorado is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s Fine Arts degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
DU also made our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $20,307 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend DU.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Denver Fine & Studio Arts Report
Western Colorado University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Colorado University is a small school located in Gunnison, Colorado that handed out 14 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Western did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Colorado University is $13,146 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Western
With a ranking of #21, Colorado Mesa University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Grand Junction, Colorado, and it awarded 14 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Colorado Mesa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Colorado Mesa is $12,685 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Colorado Mesa Fine & Studio Arts Report
Idaho State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. ISU is a fairly large public school situated in Pocatello, Idaho. It awarded 18 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
ISU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” list. It costs about $15,185 for Rocky Mountains Region Fine Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Idaho State University.
Full Idaho State University Fine & Studio Arts Report
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and it awarded 12 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at RMCAD, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend RMCAD is $16,904 for rocky mountains region fine arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at RMCAD
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
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